1. PRIME MINISTER EXTENDS CONDOLENCES CHINA – PRIME Minister Rear Admiral Voreqe Bainimarama has extended Fiji’s condolences to the Premier of the People’s Republic of China and the people affected in the recent violent terrorist attack in Urumqi city, Xinjiang Province.
2. VISIT TO BENEFIT WOMEN ON KORO ISLAND – Minister for Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation Dr Jiko Luveni will be on an official tour of Koro Island from May 24 to 27, 2014.
3. STAGE SET FOR LASELEVU ROADSHOW – Around 160,000 rural people are expected to benefit from the second Government roadshow to be held at the Wainimala Secondary School ground in Laselevu, Naitasiri from May 28 to 29, 2014.
1. PRIME MINISTER EXTENDS CONDOLENCES CHINA
PRIME Minister Rear Admiral Voreqe Bainimarama has extended Fiji’s condolences to the Premier of the People’s Republic of China and the people affected in the recent violent terrorist attack in Urumqi city, Xinjiang Province.
In a note to the PRC Premier, His Excellency Li Keqiang, the head of Government said the Fijian people stand with the people of China in their moment of grief.
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the tragic loss of life and those that were injured from this despicable and outrageous act of violence against innocent civilians,” PM Bainimarama said.
“The warm and strong friendship between our two nations only strengthens our resolve to stand with the people of China as they overcome this terror event.”
He said at this time of grief and mourning, the thoughts of those who passed away weighs heavily in the hearts of Fijians.
“Our deepest sympathies and prayers are with the families of the victims and all the people of the People’s Republic of China,” he said.
The Urumqi attack has claimed 31 lives and 90 people are reported to be injured.
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2. VISIT TO BENEFIT WOMEN ON KORO ISLAND
Minister for Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation Dr Jiko Luveni will be on an official tour of Koro Island from May 24 to 27, 2014.
Dr Luveni will be presenting the Nacamaki women with materials to help them establish their Virgin Coconut Oil project.
This assistance which amounts to $1,967.90 is expected to benefit 36 women in Nacamaki village. The assistance is part of the Ministry’s program on Formal Sector Livelihood and Informal Employment coordinated through the Women’s Plan of Action (2010 to 2019).
As part of the tour, Dr Luveni and her team will also visit Tuatua Women’s Group which comprises of 17 women. The objective of this visit is to present them with the materials for their new Virgin Coconut Oil project.
Similar assistance will be presented to the Sinuvaca Women’s Group, in Mudu district which comprises of 20 women mostly dependent on weaving and selling handicrafts to earn income for their families.
The assistance to the three groups amounts to $4000 and the Ministry has already conducted training on Virgin Coconut Oil processing with women from the these villages. Part of the training also included the production of quality VCO that will be promoted into the international market.
Minister Luveni said the focus for the Ministry this year is to drive women into production of export oriented items that comes with outstanding quality and consistency of supply.
“The objectives of the income generating projects like VCO has a lot to do with reducing poverty and improving the lives of women particularly those in rural and maritime areas who have the resources but need the matching skills to develop those resources into avenues of income generating for their families,” Dr Luveni said.
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3. STAGE SET FOR LASELEVU ROADSHOW
Around 160,000 rural people are expected to benefit from the second Government roadshow to be held at the Wainimala Secondary School ground in Laselevu, Naitasiri from May 28 to 29, 2014.
Divisional Commissioner Central, Laisenia Tuitubou said the roadshow targets Fijians in the Nagonenicol district consisting of eight villages in the province of Naitasiri.
With the theme, “Taking Government services to the rural communities,” this initiative is intended to bridge the gap between Government and the rural people.
“These areas have very limited means of communicating and access information on goods and services provided by Government and agencies in the private sector,” Mr Tuitubou added.
“The event will also be a marketing tool to create national awareness for agencies that will jointly promote and intensify information dissemination and sharing with the members of the local communities and to better identify issues and meet those actual needs.”
Government departments that will display their services for the public include birth, death and marriage registrations; Agriculture and Fisheries and Forest, Youth & Sports; Women, Social Welfare & Poverty Alleviation; Heath; Rural and Maritime Development; Education; Works, Transport & Public Utilities; Ministry of Lands & Mineral Resources and I- Taukei Affairs.
Other services that members of the public will be able to access include the Land Transport Authority, Investment Fiji, Fiji Roads, ITaukei Lands Trust board, Fiji National Provident Fund, Maritime Services Authority of Fiji, Post Fiji, telecommunication and media companies and financial assistance through commercial banks.
The Minister for Works, Transport and Public Utilities, Timoci Lesi Natuva will be opening the two day event, while the Minister for Rural & Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, Inia Seruiratu will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony.
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